We suggest an ultimate edition of Linux Mint with all Linux MInt desktops, software and themes preinstalled and preconfigured for absolute beginners to work offline. I have a small entreprise for fixing and formatting PCs and I use Linux Mint as default OS and everytime I format a PC I have to download all the software which are actually very popular on the web (like skype; aMSN,FF Multi Converter,Wine, PlayONLinux, Google Chrome, Compiz, Conky, Mozilla Addons, additional themes and wallpapers, Unetbootin, MintStick, splash screens......).

So, please consider this project and I gurantee that it will be a great push for Linux Mint worldwide. U can actually release it last after KDE. And always remember the golden role "DEVELOP OR DIE".

This is not true; you don't have to download these programs every time you do an installation. If that is the common way you install PCs, then please look into CloneZilla, Remastersys, or the instructions for remastering a Linux Mint ISO: http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/918. Basically, you can with any of these three create a bootable installer ISO of Linux Mint, but including your additional programs. You would only have to set up that image once and then you can repeatedly install it.

Another even easier option is to look in your /var/cache/apt/archives folder, where the downloaded packages are kept that you selected to install. You can copy these packages to another system, and install them there

Those are some options for not having to download packages repeatedly. If you need help with that, please post in the support section of the forums.

"Another even easier option is to look in your /var/cache/apt/archives folder, where the downloaded packages are kept that you selected to install. You can copy these packages to another system, and install them there"

Curious once you do that is the procedure for installing them?
As would be interested to know for possible future way to do it.
Thanks.
.

If just a single package, just double-click it in your file manager and GDebi will pop up and offer to install it. If it is a set of packages, and they also share dependencies (one package depending on another), you can install them from the command line in the folder where you have copied them with:

xenopeek wrote:This is not true; you don't have to download these programs every time you do an installation. If that is the common way you install PCs, then please look into CloneZilla, Remastersys, or the instructions for remastering a Linux Mint ISO: http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/918. Basically, you can with any of these three create a bootable installer ISO of Linux Mint, but including your additional programs. You would only have to set up that image once and then you can repeatedly install it.

Another even easier option is to look in your /var/cache/apt/archives folder, where the downloaded packages are kept that you selected to install. You can copy these packages to another system, and install them there

Those are some options for not having to download packages repeatedly. If you need help with that, please post in the support section of the forums.